Target-practice apparatus



H. H. CUMMINGS.

TARGET PRACTICE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, I917.

Imenikor Henry II. Uwmmi/ngs Patented Dec. 2,.1919.

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H. H. CUMMlNGS.

TARGET PRACTICE gmmmws.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. I917- Patented Dec. 2,1919.

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H. H. CUMMINGS;

TARGET PRACTICE APPARATUS.

APPLTCATION FILED MAR. 22. 1911.

Patented Dec. 2,1919.

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'tive parts shown rr STATES PATENT orrion HENRY H. CUMMINGSQOF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TARGET-PRACTICE APPARATUS.

To all whom it"ma'g concern:

Be it known that I, Has RY CUMMINGS, a citizen of'the United States, having a place of business at Bostomin the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have in vented an Improvement in Target-Practice Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying of ammunition and without the necessity for an extended space within which to conduct the practice.

Among the objects of my invention are to provide target practice apparatus which, in use more nearly approaches conditions prevailing where ammunition and long range are provided, and which if desired permits the use of a standard military rifle by the application of simple devicesireadily removed, which do not interefere in any way with the use ofthe rifle with ammunition, when so desired- V In the drawings I have shown, for. illustrative purposes, one embodiment of a'preferred construction of my invention.

In the drawings:" Figure l is a perspective, showing an illustrative use of that embodiment of my in-v vention, selected for descriptive purposes' Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a military rifle in which the-preferred mechanism has been attached for scoring and making a record of the aim of the marksman without the use of ammunition.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the opposite side of the rifle equipped with the cooperain Fig. 2.

Fig. is a plan of the parts shownin Figs. 2 and '3.

Fig. 5 is a sectionpartially in elevation on the lines 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a section paitiallyin elevationon the line 6-6 of 2. 3

Fig. 7 shows a detail of the hammer of the target practice apparatus with its coiip'erating parts which are hereinafter more specifically referred to. j

F i g. 8 is a top view, partially broken Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

Application nee. March 22, 1917. Serial No. 156,755.

away, showing the operation of the devices coeperating with the gun and attached parts for correlating the POSllZlOIL of the registering devicewith the registering target inv the same manner as the pro ect le, had one been fired, would have registered on the objective target.

' Figs. ,9, 10 and 11 show details of mechanism shown in Fig. 8- and are hereinafter more specifically referred to.

In the illustrative embodiment of the preferred construction of my invention shown inthe drawings, (Fig. 1) I have shown an objective target 40, and a standard 41, located at a definite predetermined distance from the objective target 40. The standard 4:1 is preferably provided with a projecting arm 42, carrying at its outer end an alinable main fulcrum 43 which is adjustable by adjusting screws 44: (Fig. 10).

The adjustable main fulcrum isv preferably tubular and provided with the cross hairs 4:5, for alinement with a small hole46 in one end-I thereof (Fig.

The alinable main fulcrum 43 preferably carries. yoke members 47 and 48, hinged to the fulcrum element 49. Attached to the yoke member 481 preferably provide: scoring, needlev controller guide 50.

Y The scoring needle controller guide 50, the yoke fulcrum 49 and the alinable main fulcrum 43 are relatively positioned and alinedso that the axis of the alinable main fulcrum 43, the axis of the yoke fulcrum 49 and the sights of the gun, when in proper relation to the scoring needle controller all converge at a point located at the same distance from the standard 41, as the objective target is located.

It will be understood that where a mirror is used, as shown in my Patent 739,778, issued. to me September 22, 1903, a reflected objective target will be only distance to the point of convergence guide,

above referred to.

I will" now describe the gun and preferred form. of recording and synchronizing mechone-half the loo anism selected as illustrative of my invention. Referring to Fig- 2, I have shown the breech portion of a standard ,military rifle 51, from which the breech bolt has been withdrawn", and to which frame member 52 has been attached by a locating screw 53, extending through and fitting a hole which is present in all U. Sstandard army: rifles, the screw 53 passing through the breech bolt guide into a tapped hole in a projection 7 from the frame member 52. I have also upper portion of the frame element 52 and determined provided a clamp 54 engaging the rear por score registering target move relative to the score registering needle when the trigger is pulled, and to this end I haveprovided the target container 55, carried-by an-"arm 56, projecting upwardly through a slot in the upper surface of the frame element-52 from the target slide 57, which is rectilinearly reciprocable between the lower side ofthe guides 60 and 61, best shown in; Figs. 3 and 7 respectively. 7

r In Fig. 3 I have indicatedthe sear 62 of the gun, which is retracted whenthe trigger of the gun is pulled. I have further shown 7 position as shown in Fig. 7 ,the cocking of n end of thehammer 63 forward and hence to back the target slide 57, therebypulling the to its" initial position thereby releasing the the hammer element 63 pivoted on the screw 64, which is secured to the frame element 52. The illustrative hammer element 63is cocked by being pushed forward by the thumb. It isjheld'in acockedposition so long as the sear 62engages thesear engaging portion of the hammer'63; .Attached to the hammer 63 I have shown acam wiper 23 adapted, when the gun is cocked by pushing forward the hammer 63, to' engage the front surface 65 of the cam 66. The rear end of the cam wiper 23 is preferably pushed upwardly by a spring pressed bolt 67 so that the forward end of the cam-wiper has a tendency tomove in a downward di rection. V

Assuming that the parts are in uncooked the hammer 63 causes the" cam wiper 23 to ride over the cam 66 without pulling back the scoring target slide 57. The cooking of the hammer 63 exerts a tension on the ham mer spring 68 which tends to pull the lower move rearwardly theupper end of the ham mer 63 and the cam wiper 23. As soon as the sear releasesthe hammer the cam wiper 23,

acting on the surface 55 of the cam 66,'draws target backagainst the scoring needle 69 and causing a slight indentation intheface of the target to be madeby the point of -the scoring needle 69. After the target slide 57 hasbeen pulled backi'sufiiciently to registe'nthe shot, the cam wiper 23 rides over the top'of theicam 66, thereby permitting the-spring 70 (Fig. 7 to returnthe target point of the'scoring needle.

' T0 define the limits ofmovement of the hammer 63, I preferably provide 'a'hammer limiting pin 71, which limits the movement the frame of the hammer on both its cocking and discharging movements. n

l I will now descrlbe the mechanism carried by the frame element 52 for synchronizing the relation of the scoring needle 69 with the target carried by the scoring target conment of thescoring needle controller relative to the scoring needle controller support and which permits a slight roe-king oi: the scoring needle gun. I

Pro ectlng rearwardly rrom the scoring needle controller, and preferably rigidly'ab ta'ched thereto, I provide a scoring needle controller'arm 7 6, provided at its rear end controller lengthwise of the with an aperture through which the scoring needle 69 passes. :The scoringneedle 69 is provided at its rear end with ya scoring needle socket 77 engaging the top of the scoring needle fulcrum screw 78, which is carried by the bracket 79. carried by the frame element The bracket 79- is prefera-bly pivoted at SO'and provided with a forwardly extending base 81, constituting a preferred form of lateral synchronizer for the needle.

' The scoring needle spring 82 is preferably connected to the bracket 79 and to a projection from the scoring needle socket and tends tokeep the scoring needle 69 in the upper portion of the targetjand thescoring needle controller 57 5 tipped forward as shown in .full linesin Fig.3.l

Any suitable provision may be mat e for' adjusting the mechanism relative to the sights of the gun, but I prefer to provide :1-

" gun synchronizer typified by. the detachable upstanding element 72 which ris preferably of malleable metal,. so that it canbe drawn out, if necessary, or filed until the top of the element 72 is exactly the samedist-ance form the line of sight of the gun, that the center portion of the scoring needle controller 7 5 is located from the line of sight of the'gun.

Thus, in adjusting the scoring apparatus the synchronizer 72 and the. scoring needle con ]troller are held in contact witli' the scoring needle controller guide, the alinable fulcrum 43 being alined with the objective tar get and the sights of'the gun being alinet with the objective target. The screw '78 and the lateral synchronizer81'are then adjusted so that the scoring needle coincides with the scoring target. [liter this adjustment the gun synchronizer 72 may be removed. or. if

it is'not removed, the gun should he held during practice shots with the synchronizer get; The scoring needle controller-guide will then be so positioned, relative to the bullseye of the objective target 40, that when the scoringneedle controller 7 5 is in contact with the groove 0n the upper side of the scoring needle controller guide 50, and the sights of the gun are exactly alined with thebulls-eye of the objective target, the scoring needle will be exactly in alinement with'the bullseye of the scoring target. This will be true whether the scoring needle controller guide be held by a tall marksman at a relatively high, or by a short marksman at a relatively low position relative'to the alinable main fulcrum.

A marksman first cocks the gun by pushing the hammer63 forward, thereby catching the cam wiper 23 on the surface 65 of the cam 66; The marksman then-raises the gun until the top of the scoring needle con troller is in contact with and lifts the scoring needlecontroller guide 50. He then sights the gun over'itsregul'ar sights at the objective target, and in due course pulls the trigger, thereby pulling downthe-sear 62 and permitting the hammer spring 68 to pull the top of the hammer backward, thereby pulling back the scoring'target slide 57 and the scoring target, and causing the scoring needle to register the shot on the scoring target. During the firing operation the marksman cannot see the scoring target because the frame 52 is interposed between his eye and the scoring target.

To compensate for the amount by. which the removal of the breech bolt has reduced the usual tension on the triggerfl preferably provide a trigger tension adjuster, typified by the spring 90, which'is preferably attached to the trigger guard 91 of the gun by a hollow adjusting screw 92having a spring therein which presses against the trigger guard 91. After the release of the hammer, and after the scoring target has been drawn back so that the scoring needle has registered, the cam wiper Q3'rides over the top of thecam 66 thereby permitting scoringtarget to be returned to its initial position by the spring 70, and so freeing thepoint of the scoring needle.

Assuming that the aim of the marksman has been correct, the groove in the scoring needle co'ntrol-le'r' guide will have been in contact with-the entire length of the scoring needle controller? 5 and the latter will have been exactly parallelwith"the line of the sights of the gun. Under these conditions the scoring needle will have registered'with the bulls-eye. I

If, on the other hand, the gun be pointed too high, the needle controller will have been tipped forward at its front end, relative to line of the sights of the gun, thereby raising the scoring needle controller arm 7 6 and raising the scoring needle 69 to a point above the bulls-eye.

Similarly,-ift the gun were aimed too low, the scoring needle controller would betip'ped toward the rear of the gun, thereby depressing the scoring needle controller; and causing it to register below the bulls-eye.

If the gun is not correctly alin'ed laterally with the bulls-eye of the objective target, the scoring needle controller will have been turned bythe scoring needle controller guide out of lateral alinement' with the line of the sights of the gun and will in turn have moved the scoring needle correspondingly to the right or left of the bulls-eye on the scoring target. The scoring needle limiting plate 93 servesflto prevent such displacement of the scoring needle as to cause the latter to be moved outside of the edgesof thetar get container 55.

The principal advantages of the mechanism described over the usual forms of target practice apparatus adapted for use without ammunition, are the entire separability of the gun from the standard and associated parts; the similarity in weight and poise of the gun during targetpractice to its weight and poise when in use with ammunition, the accuracy of the scoring mechanism, the simplicity of parts and the easeof adjustn'lent. I

V hil'e I have shown and described one embodiment of theflpreferred form of 'my invention, it will be understood that changes, involving omission, substitution,

alteration, or reversal'of parts, and changes in method of operation may be made without departing from the scope of my invention, whic'his best defined' ijn the following claims. j

Claims: I I 1. Target practice apparatus comprising in combination a gun having a trigger and sights, an objective targetand scoring mechanism for recording thei'elation of the line of said sights to said objective target without the use of ammunition, said seoring mechanism including means carried by the gun and cooperating means fiXed relative to the target, saidgun and means carried thereby being entn'ely free of andsepaexcept during the periods of aiming said .in combination agun havingsights .and a trigger; an objective target, and scoring means for indicating the relation of the line of sa1d sights to the target, said scoring means including alined means having at all times a. predetermined relation to the objective target, and cooperating means can ried by said gun, said gun and said cooperating means being normally entirely separate and free from said alined means,

gun and operation of said scoring means.

3. Target practice apparatus comprising in combination a gun having sights and a trigger; said gun carrying a scoring target, a scoring needle, and a scoring needle controller; and a scoring needle controller guide carried by a support fixed relative to the objective target, said controller' guide being movable in all directions while remaining alined with the objective target. 7

4. Target practice apparatus comprising in combination a gun having sights and a trigger;said gun carrying scoring target, a scoring needle, and a scoring needleconand a fixed sup ort having an alinable main fulcrum for alinement ,wlth said ob ectlve target, a controller guide for the scoring means earned by said almable mam fulcrum and movable in any direction 1n a 'planesubstantially transverse to the axis of said fulcrum; while retaining'a predetermined relation to the ,objectivetarget. r 6. Target practice apparatus comprising in combination a gun, carrying a scoring target, a scoring needle, and a scorlngneedle controller; a cooperating fixed support having an alinable main fulcrum carrying cross hairs for 'alinement with an objective target,

and a scoring needle controller guide carried by said alinable main fulcrum and movable in any direction in a plane substantially transverse to the axis of said main fulcrum.

. 7. Targetpractice apparatus comprising,

in combination, a gun having a barrel and sights alined therewith, a scoring target and a scoring needle above the line of said sights and means for coordinating the line of said sights relative to the objectivetanget and the relativeposition otsaid scoring target and scoring needle.

8. Target practice apparatus comprising, iii-combination, a control support, a scoring device control part carried thereby and movable into a plurality of positions while maintaining a. predetermined alinement relative to the objective target, and an ammunitionless gun device entirely separate trom said control partand carrying a 00- operating scoring device control part and a and a hammer which is cocked by orward movement of the top thereof.

10. A gun for use in target practice with- V out ammunition, comprising in combination scoring means, a hammer, a cam wiper con nected to said hammerfor movement thereby and acam for imparting movement to said scoring means on movement of said cam wiper .by said hammer.

11. A gun for use in target practicewithout ammunition comprising in" combination scoring means, a hammer, a cam wiper connected to said hammer for movementthereby, and a cam for imparting movement to said scoring means by ,movement of said cam wiper-in one direction only. 7 j

: 12. A gun for use in target practice without ammunition comprising in combination 7 a scorlng target, a Sllde connected thereto, a.

cam on said slide, hammer actuated means for imparting scoring movement to said slide in one direction, andspring controller means for imparting movement to saidv slide in the opposite direction. V

13. A gun for use intarget practice without ammunition comprising in combination ascoring target, a hflHLTlBE COCkGd byl for ward movement of the top thereof, ;and' 7 means actuated by'rea-rward movement of the top of said hammer for imparting scoring movement to said scoring target.

14. Target practice apparatus comprising, in combination, a control standard, a lever pivoted thereto about an axis alined with an objective target, a secondlever pivoted to the first-named lever about an axis alined with the objective target scoring device-icontrolling means carried by said second lever and alined with said objective target, a gun having a scoring device for cooperation with said scoring device controlling means,' said scoring device controllingmeans being movablein all directions. transverse, to {its axis while maintained in .alinement with the ob-' jective target. 7 i 7V 15. Target practice apparatus comprising,

in combination, a gun having a front and a rear sight and scoringmechanism carried by said gun above the line of said sights and concealed from the eye of thepmarksman when it is alii'ied with saidgsights 16. A gun for use in target practice without ammunition comprising, in" combination a scoring target, a scoring needle, and a scoring needle controller extending in ethe general direction of the barrel of'saidgun and having provision for movement about an axis intersecting its axis substantially at right angles, and for movement about a second axis intersecting said first named axis substantially at right angles, but at a point located a considerable distance below the top of said scoring needle controller.

17. A gun for use in target practice Without ammunition, having a trigger and provided with scoring means, including a frame carried by the breech of the gun, and having mounted thereon a scoring target, a scoring needle, a scoring needle controller, and scoring target moving means operable on pullhng the trlgger of sald gun to move said.

target against the point of said scoring needle. s

18. Target practice apparatus comprising in combination an objective target, a gun carrying scoring means, cooperating means cooperating with said scoring means and having a predetermined relation to said objective target, said gun and scoring means being unattached to said cooperating means. 19. Targetpractice apparatus comprising in combination a barrel, a trigger and scoring mechanism controlled by said trigger,

and above the line of said barrel, said scoring mechanism including a scoring target, a scoring needle, means for coordinating the line of the sights relative to the objective target and the position of the scoring needle relative to the scoring'target and means controlled by said trigger for actuating relative moving together of said scoring target and said scoring needle.

20. Target practice apparatus comprising the combination of scoring mechanism for attachment to the breech of a gun on removal of the breech bolt thereof and controlled by the sear of said gun. v

21. Target practic apparatus comprising, in combination a gun having a trigger and sights, an objective target, and scoring mechanism carried by the gun for recording the relation of the line of said sights to said objective target Without the use of ammunition, scoring mechanism controlling means,

said gun and means carried thereby being entirely free and separable from said scorin mechanism controlling means.

Tn testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. HENRY H. CUMMINGS. 

